Submitting to Apple's App Store pt.2: Hardware needed!

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hello,

I managed to get my Garmin CIQ Companion app uploaded to the App Store, but the review process was halted with the following reason:

Hardware required

We began the review of your app but are not able to continue because we need the associated hardware to fully assess your app features.

At your earliest convenience, please send the necessary hardware/accessory to the address below.

NOTE: Please include your app name and app ID in the shipment; failure to provide this information can delay the review process.

Additionally, it may take several business days for us to receive the hardware once it has been delivered to Apple.

Apple, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop, M/S: 124-2APP
Cupertino, CA 95014
USA

Has anyone on this forum submitted a Garmin companion app to the App Store? Did you also provide them with some Garmin hardware for them to test the app with?

Garmin, don't you have some agreement with Apple in regards to this matter? Alongside my Garmin CIQ Companion app, I submitted a Pebble watch companion app to Apple's App Store, and for that app, I was not required to send hardware to Apple, but rather some codes that Pebble provides for its developers. Why can't Garmin do the same? You were welcoming Pebble developers just the other day, why not provide the same benefits that Pebble did in regards to this issue?

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hello,

This is something that we have not seen before. It is possible that there has been some change made in Apple's policy regarding this. We will be investigating this ASAP. Thank you for reporting it.

Thank you,
-Coleman

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hello Coleman, thank you very much! I'm looking forward to some positive answer on this issue!

In the meantime, I wrote this to Apple, as a reply

I am not the manufacturer of that hardware. I am a developer using a public SDK to make a companion app for Garmin Connect IQ devices. I am not connected to Garmin anyhow.

Garmin is a well-known company, I was assuming they had provided Apple the necessary hardware and accounts to test companion apps for their devices, since they publicly support iOS companion apps and even include instructions on how to prepare a build for Apple's App Store.

Could you please officially confirm that Garmin does not offer such support for companion apps for their Connect IQ platform, i.e. that it does not provide Apple the necessary hardware and accounts for Apple to test Connect IQ related apps submitted to the Apple App Store?

Thank you.

So, I'm expecting some official feedback from them.

Former Member over 8 years ago

Good news :-)

I just got a response from Apple so I wanted to share them with you. After writing to them the above explanation, they agreed that no sending of hardware was needed, they now ask for a video demonstration of my app, which is something which I can easily make, of course. Its possible that Garmin also intervened in this process, if so, I'm grateful for that.

PedlarStudios over 8 years ago

Ah, great to hear as I consider creating an iOS companion app. Thanks for taking one for the team!

Former Member over 8 years ago

Yes, good luck with your app!

Mine just got approved and is available in the App Store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSYiMxz3r9k

:-)

Former Member over 8 years ago

eir3apps,

I'm so glad to hear that Apple came back with this response. I just got word that this is what some of our other developers have done. Thanks so much for your patience and diligence.

Thanks,

-Coleman